Railway mail catcher and deliverer.



J. H. MILLER.

RAILWAY MAIL GATGHER AND DELIVERER.

APPLIOATION FILLED SEPT. 17, 190B.

Patented Apr. 6, 1909.

IIII J I A TTORNE Y WITNESSES:

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J. HJMILLER; RAILWAY MAIL CATGHER AND DELIVERER.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 17, 1908.

Patented. Apr. 6', 1909.

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' ATTORNEY WITNESSES:

THE NO-RIS PETERS ca, wnsuma'rou, n. c.

JOSEPH H. MILLER, OF FREMONT, OHIO.

RAILWAY MAIL CATCHEB AND DELIVERER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 6, 1909.

Application filed September 17, 1908. Serial No, 453357.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH H. MILLER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Fremont, in the county of Sandusky and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Railway Mail Catchers and. Deliverers, of which the following is a specification.

Generally speaking, the purpose and ol ject of my invention is, to provide mechanisms for use in connection with the railway mail service, whereby the mail clerk is permitted, both to catch and to deliver mail at the same station, substantially at the same time.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 represents a perspective view of my invention. Fig. 2 represents a view in elevation looking into the car door. Fig. 8 represents in part a plan view of my invention and in part a horizontal section on the line A A of Fig. 2. Fig. 4: represents a vertical section on the line A A of Fig. 1 showing details. Fig. 5 represents a modification. Fig. 6 represents a form of catcher now commonly in use.

Coming now to a more detailed description of my invention, referring to Figs. 1 and 3. Atthe station or point where it is desired to deliver or catch mail, a suitable post 1 is erected which is made to support a table or shelf 2, and upon which is mounted a pair of connecting links 3 which at one end are pivoted to said shelf by a stud or bolt 1. Oppositely said links are connected by a bar 5 which is pivoted thereto by suitable stud 6. It is intended that said posts 1 shall be set at uniform distances from the railway track, and such as to accommodate the use of said mail catchers as are now commonly in use; and therefore the width of the ii'helf '2, and the length of the links 3, are constructed accordingly.

In Fig. 1, B represents an approaching car, moving in the direction of the arrow, and carrying for delivery a mail pouch 7 which is supposed to be delivered at this station. For the purpose of receiving said pouch said bar 5 is bifurcated, and given prongs 8 and 9, between which, as between thumb and finger, the pouch is deposited, as the car moves along.

It is a matter of common knowledge among those skilled in the art, that mail pouches which are to be picked up by a moving car, are so belted about their middle,

that a neck is formed between its extremities for the more successful operation of the mail-catcher. For a similar reason I intend. that pouches 7, to be delivered, shall be simi larly belted.

While the pouch 7 held in vertical po sition, I make the bar 5 to operate in horizontal. plane; and, therefore, the several parts are so disposed that the belt of said pouch is made to be carried in plane with said bar; and at such distance from the side of. the car as will accomplish the purpose intended.

The speed with which mail trains are usually operated, when passing a station at which no stop is made, requires, for the purpose of safety to the pouch, that a sudden stop should be avoided; and therefore, the links 3 are made to swing, and thereby allow the bar 5 to yield to the momentum of said pouch. Incidentally, and as indicated in dotted outline in Fig. 3, said bar is carried away from the track; and thus the prongs, 8 and. 9, are rendered less liable to do injury to employees on passing trains. In order that said pouches may be suitably carried, I provide for each car a suitable crane, of which the post 10, turning upon pivots 11, (see Fig. 3), represents the vertical axis. And to this post I bracket a pair of hor zontally projecting arms 12, upper and lower, to which, near their outer ends, by a vertical stud 13, I pivot a suitable bracket 14-, upon which a lever 15 is fulcrumed, and to which it is horizontally hinged by a hinge pin 16. Said pouches are commonly supplied with rings 17, or other means, whereby they must be supported and carried, as indicated in Fig. 1. To prevent said rings from readily slipping off the outer ends of said levers, and so preventing the pouch from less, said ends are slightly bent as at 15. To more safely secure said pouch, said arms 12 are set at a suflicient distance apart, so that when said levers are in operative position it is put under a longitudinal strain; also, and to suitably hold said levers in such position, and thereby hold said pouch against the usual draft of air caused by the moving train, as well as to hold said pouch against storms when dead ahead, while allowing it to be released as required, said parts 15 are made of spring metal, and are sprung into lock; the same being made to bear against the lug 18 which is carried by the arm 12, upon one side, while oppositely the inner ends thereof are made to engage a locking recess 19, which is formed in the end of a block 20, made fast to said post.

Referring to Fig. 3: The full lines are made to represent the position of the parts, at the moment of impact between the pouch and the end of said bar 5; while in dotted outline is shown the position of said lever 15, when the car has moved forward sufficient to deposit the pouch. In this advanced position said lever is represented as released from lock, and turned in horizontal plane. It is to be observed that the outer ends of the lever 15 must be brought together, for the purpose of releasing the pouch; not only sufiicient to permit the relatively outward bent tips 15 to be withdrawn from the ring, but to meet the natural tendency of the pouch to double upon itself at the moment of impact. It is to provide for this requirement, that said levers are hinged as heretofore explained. Also, it is'to be observed that said levers should be permitted to yield for that purpose, as early as possible, and therefore the depth of the recess 19, which is formed in the end of the block 20, is made accordingly.

For the more effective operation of my device, not only the bracket 14: is made to have a horizontal action, the stud 13 being set vertical, but said lever is so hinged, that it is iven an action at right angles thereto.

It is obviously intended that the arms 12, upper and lower, shall pass astride the bar 5, and therefore the several parts are so adapted; and the parts pertinent to the lower arm are reversed.

In order that my device may for the delivery of mail pouches, both going and coming, I provide said bar 5 with identical prongs at each end; and I intend that l said. crane shall be shiftable, and that pro- 1 visions shall be made so that it may be set at either side of the doorway, and upon either side of the car.

For the purposes of catching, or picking up mail pouches, I utilize the prongs 8 and 9 at the end of said bar 5 opposite from those which are made to receive the pouch 7. In the drawings, 21 represents the pouch to be caught orpicked up by the moving train, and 22 represents the catcher for that purbe utilized pose.

It has already been stated, that the posts 1 are intended to be so set as to permit the use of such mail catchers as are now commonly in use, such as represented in Fig. 6; therefore I do not claim anything on account of said catcher 22; but either form thereof may be used as preferred.

As is well known by those familiar with the art, the safe yof the pouch to be picked up requires that the catcher Shall be so formed that the pouch does not become seated in the catcher at the moment of first impact; and for that purpose, the present and commonly used. catcher is formed with an arm 30 which, when in operative position, projects out from the side of the car at an acute angle. In the use of such a catcher, it is manifest that the pouch is drawn toward the car as the car advances, and therefore, to permit of such movement, the prong 8 is made to depart from a straight line; the point of deflection being located so as not to interfere with the support of said pouch when at rest, but otherwise so as to permit of such movement. Manifestly said deflected portion 23, might be cut away entirely, leaving only enough of said prong to :turnish support for said pouch, without departing from the spirit of my invention; but on the contrary serving only to reduce its value. For the purpose of permitting such inward movement of the pouch, said part 23 may be deflected upon a straight line, as represented in Fig. 5, but preferably I give to the same the form of a quadrant of a circle, on a radius of four inches measured from the operative edge of said prong; nevertheless I do not wish to be restricted to any precise measure, the intent and purpose being to so provide that the momentum given to the bar 5, by impact of the pouch 7,

shall not cause the forward end of the prong 8 to interfere with such inward movement.

h'lanifestly the effective operation of my device requires, that the pouch 21 shall be removed from its seat, and carried out of the path of the part 23, before the pouch 7 makes impact with the opposite end of the bar 5; and therefore the length of said bar is such, considering the form of the catcher, and width of the door, that that end may be attained.

T he catcher 22 shown in the drawings, see 2 and 3, is so formed that the first impact of the pouch therewith is made against the rounded shoulder portion 22 by means of which the neck of said pouch is somewhat flattened before reaching its seat, where it is permitted to eXpand, and thereby preventing any rebound of said pouch to occasion loss thereof. By means of the form which I give to said catcher, requiring said pouch to make impact first with said rounded shoulder portion, it is manifest that I thus provide for the safety of said pouches. catcher is represented projecting outward from a collar 2% which is free to turn upon a'rod 25, which is mounted in suitablebearings 26 secured to the walls of the car. To hold said rod in place suitable removable keys 27 are used, such that said rod may be changed end for end; while said collar 24 is made to operate against a stop collar 28 which is carried by said rod. Opposite from In the drawings said the catcher is the usual handle 29. In Fig. 2 T. 1

ent; while in Fig. 3 it is represented as being horizontal, and in operative position, the handle 29 being turned down.

Vith reference to the angle of departure to be given. to the part 23, see Fig. 5, it is now to be obse ved that the problem is to be solved by considering the movement which the form of the catcher causes the pouch to make, both forward in line with the track and toward the car, while the car is moving a given distance. Using the form of catcher now so commonly used, it is suggested that a deflection of 15 will be sutlicient. It is to be understood as before intimated, that this defiected part might be wholly removed, without rendering the device inoperative; but I prefer to retain the same, whether in the form shown in Fig. 3, or in F 5, be cause it aids in supporting the pouch in transit; therefore I do not make the same a necessary part of my claims, and do not wish to be understood s doing so.

It is now to be observed that I have made the prong 9 longer than its companion prong S, and also that I have given its tip a lesser curve. But this, it is to be understood, is out of consideration both for sufficiency and increased utility, and notfrom necessity.

Z'Iaving now fully described my invention, what I. claim is:

l. in a device of the character described, a swinging crane carried by a moving car,

said crane having a pair of horizontally projecting arms, upper and lower, forming part thereof; a fmcrum-serving bracket for each of said arms, which, near their outer ends, pivotally carried thereby; a lever for each such bracket, which, intervening the ends thereof, is horizontally hinged thereto and fulcrumed thereupon, the outer end of which relatively outward bent, and serves as a guard against loss of pouches carried thereby; locking means for each. such lever, whereby the outer ends thereof are held in operative position while said pouch is in transit, said means being such that the inner end of said. lever may be sprung into lock, but such that, upon impact between said pouch and a body at rest, said inner end is removed from lock, and said pouch is released; together with means whereby said bracket is carried, and fulcrum-hinging means for said lever; all in combination with a stationary post; a shelf supported thereby; a horizontally operating bar with bifurcated ends, each end of which is adapted to receive a moving pouch; and a pair of connecting links which are mounted upon and supported by said shelf, one end of which is pivoted thereto, the opposite ends being pivoted to and made to carry said hifurcated bar, together with means for the pivoting of said links; all substantially as set forth.

2. In a device of the character described a station post; a shelf supported thereby and secured thereto; a horizontally operating bar with bifurcated ends, each end of which is adapted, in turn, to temporarily support an outgoing mail pouch, and to permit the same to be caught therefrom; a pair of connecting links mounted upon said shelf and supported thereby, one end of which is pivoted thereto, the opposite ends of which are pivoted to and made to support said bifurcated bar; and means for the pivoting of said links, all in combination and substantially as set forth.

3. in a device of the character described, a swinging crane adapted to be carried by a moving car and having a pair of horizontally projecting arms, upper and lower, formiug part thereof; a fulcrum-serving bracket for each of said arms, which is pivotally carried thereby near their outer ends; a lever for each such bracket which intervening the ends thereof is horizontally hinged thereto and fulcruined thereupon, the outer end of which is relatively outward bent, and serves as a guard against loss of pouches carried thereby; locking means for each such lever, whereby the outer ends thereof are held in perative position while said pouch. is in transit, said means being such that the inner :id of said lever may be sprung into look, but such that, upon impact between said pouch and a body at rest, said inner end is removed from lock, and said pouch is released; together with means whereby said bracket is carried, and fulcrum-hinging means for said lever; all in combination, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOSEPH H. MILLER. l i itnesses Crlas. L. STEVENS, CARL J. Hnrrnnn. 

